The purpose of this article is to define some of the resources available to small business owners in South Carolina. Whether you are just starting out in business, or you have achieved some success and you are ready to expand, you will be able to find assistance. The most important service for the majority of small business owners across the United States is the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The SBA is an information and advisory service which also provides financing to small business, business programs, and non-profit organizations. Funded and operated by the federal government, the SBA is always very selective about how money is distributed. For example, only small business that operate within specific industries are considered eligible for free grants.

These industries include:

• transportation
• energy
• agriculture

Full details can be found at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses.

The reason for this policy is to encourage innovation and research. Most small businesses provide a valuable service, but one that is not unique. As a result, they are not considered innovative enough to qualify for an SBA grant. The application process for the grant awarding programs, Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer, is very strictly controlled. Most small businesses therefore have to use other sources of financing.

The following organizations can give you some ideas as to alternative forms of financing. In addition, they can also offer expert advice regarding how to run a successful small business in South Carolina. Each local office can offer various useful business services, as outlined below.

South Carolina Business One Stop
South Carolina Business One Stop is the official business portal of the state. Due to the fact that the resource is provided by the state of South Carolina, the information can be trusted as being completely accurate. The South Carolina Business One Stop offers small business owners:

• information on registering a small business, licenses, regulations, and paying tax
• training and tutorials on various aspects of running a small business
• a convenient and quick way to manage business filings

South Carolina Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance
The South Carolina Office of Small and Minority Business Assistance was created by the Governor in 1979. The aim of the office is to stimulate economic growth by meeting the needs specifically of small and minority owned businesses. No grants or loans are awarded, but financial advice can be provided. The office also advocates for a portion of state and federal government procurement contracts to be awarded to small businesses.

South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce
The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce is a state wide organization of over five thousand members, which originated in 2000. It is an advocacy group which prides itself on defending the interests of its members, especially in terms of tax and insurance. Members are continually kept informed of any important matters relating to small businesses in South Carolina.

With the programs and services available to you in South Carolina you should have no trouble in developing your small business. With the SBA’s policy regarding the awarding of free grants you may have more difficulty in sourcing financing, however even with this there is assistance available. The necessity for having access to funds makes taking the time to investigate financing options extremely worthwhile.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
South Carolina District Office
1835 Assembly Street Suite 1425
Columbia, SC 29201
United States
Phone: 803-765-5377
Fax: 803-765-5962

The South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce
1717 Gervais Street Columbia, SC 29201
Phone: 803.252.5733Fax: 803.799.0678

Governor’s Office of Small & Minority Business Assistance
1205 Pendleton Street, Suite 474
Columbia, South Carolina 29201
NEW FAX (803) 734-0548

Small businesses play a very important role in the economy of Rhode Island. In fact, across the United States small businesses contribute a large proportion to the revenue of any state. As a result, the government has put in place the U.S. Small Business Administration, with offices in every state, to help small businesses to survive and thrive.

The SBA provides small business owners with information, advice, access to resources, and financing. This financing generally comes in the form of loans rather than free grants. Any grants that the SBA provides must be administered through the Small Business Technology Transfer and Small Business Innovation Research programs.

SBA grants are not available for starting or expanding a small business, but instead are reserved for carrying out research and development projects. The SBTT and SBIR programs demand innovation from a small business, and grants are therefore the exception rather than the norm. When grants are awarded they tend to be in industries such as:

• health
• agriculture
• aeronautics

The full list of applicable industries can be seen at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses.

Even if your small business is unlikely to be awarded an SBA grant, you can still find out about alternative financing from the following organizations. Each organization is located in Rhode Island, and each can provide you with information relating to running a small business, as well as obtaining financing.

Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation
The Small Business Services program, which is run by the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, provides small business owners with a range of useful services. Specific examples include:

• an online resources guide, which lists all municipal, state, and federal agencies that offer assistance to small businesses
• free workshops to help entrepreneurs to develop their business skills
• the Every Company Counts initiative, which provides networking opportunities to business owners, allowing resources to be shared

Rhode Island Small Business Journal
The Rhode Island Small Business Journal is a valuable resource for any small business owner in the state. Through a free monthly publication the expert staff provide:

• technical advice on business law, insurance, technology, marketing, and accounting and tax
• specialist advice for female small business owners
• workshops presented by successful Rhode Island business people
• opportunities for collaboration through networking events

Rhode Island Small Business Development Center
The Rhode Island Small Business Development Center runs offices at universities throughout the state. Working in conjunction with the SBA, the RISBDC is extremely important to the local small business community. Some of the services provided includes:

• training workshops and seminars on topics such as writing a business plan, and utilizing social media
• the RISBDC Student Engagement Program, which allows students to develop their skills by providing promotional videos, marketing, and website development for small businesses
• a resources library providing free templates, software, and much more

As stated previously, the importance of small businesses in driving the economy means that each state wants their local businesses to succeed. This article has highlighted some of the organizations designed to assist small businesses in Rhode Island. Many of the services on offer are provided free of charge, and can make a huge difference to the fortunes of small businesses within the state.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
Rhode Island District Office
380 Westminster Street Room 511
Providence, RI 02903
United States
Phone: 401-528-4561
Fax: 401-528-4539

RIEDC.
315 Iron Horse Way. Suite 101.
Phone: 401-278-9100 | FAX: 401-273-8270
Providence, RI 02908

Rhode Island SBDC
Johnson & Wales University
270 Weybosset Street
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: 401-598-2706
Fax: 401-598-2722

If you intend to start a small business in Pennsylvania then you will need access to a large amount of seed money. Business owners who want to expand their operations will similarly need financing. Many people think that they can turn to the United States federal government for help, however in reality the situation is often more complicated.

The federal government usually provides small businesses with loans through their U.S. Small Business Administration, however grants are far less common. Funded by the taxpayer, the SBA will only provide free grants to businesses that are enrolled in their Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Admittance to these programs is based upon the impact that a small business has on the local, national, and global economies. Businesses that exhibit innovation in terms of research being carried out, or products and services being offered, are accepted, whereas most typical small business are not. If your business does not operate in industries such as :

• education
• health
• science and technology

then you will not be able to receive a free grant from the Small Business Administration. Full details can be found at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses.

It is important to state that you have access to various businesses services as a Pennsylvania small business owner. The organizations listed below can provide you with various forms of assistance. Whether you are starting or expanding a business, they can provide you with the information you need.

Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center
There are eighteen Small Business Development Centers located at universities across the state of Pennsylvania. They support small business owners through education, advice, and information. In particular, they offer:

• access to resources on business planning, loans, and taxes
• an online learning service which teaches valuable business skills
• individual counseling and advice on growing a small business, in addition to targeted consulting on technology, environmental management, government marketing, and international business

Department of Environmental Protection
The Pennsylvania state Department of Environmental Protection runs the Small Business Assistance Program. The purpose of the program is to provide small business owners with up to date information regarding environmental regulations, thereby ensuring compliance. Also of note are:

• The Small Business Advantage Grant Program, which awards up to $7500 to small businesses to allow them to adopt energy efficient processes or technology
• The Small Business Pollution Prevention Assistance Account Loan Program, which offers loans of up to $100,000 to allow businesses with fewer than 100 employees to undertake projects to reduce waste or pollution

Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
The Department of Community and Economic Development is an official Pennsylvania state agency. It performs many functions, but one of the most important is its role in small business assistance. Specific examples of assistance include:

• information on starting a business in Pennsylvania, including writing a business plan and finding a suitable site
• information on the various sources of financing available to small businesses in Pennsylvania
• expert advice on all registering, regulatory, and licensing issues

Office of Small Business Advocate
The Office of Small Business Advocate is a division of the Department of Community and Economic Development. The role of the office is to represent the interests of small businesses in terms of public utilities. This refers to maintaining standards as well as opposing any substantial increases in rates. The office employs attorneys in addition to support workers.

By using the services on offer, such as those highlighted above, you will have the skills you need to develop your small business. Expansion will require financing, however, which is why it is so important to know the requirements of various grant and loan providers. Only with this knowledge can you make the best decision for your Pennsylvania small business.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
Philadelphia District Office
Parkview Tower 1150 First Avenue, Suite 1001
King of Prussia, PA 19406
United States
Phone: 610-382-3062

Pittsburgh District Office
411 Seventh Avenue Suite 1450
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
United States
Phone: 412-395-6560
Fax: 412-395-6562

Pennsylvania SBDC
State Director’s Office
3819-33 Chestnut Street, Suite 325
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3238
(215) 898-1219

Office of Small Business Advocate
300 North Second Street, Suite 1102
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 783-2525
Fax: (717) 783-2831

If you are a small business owner in Oregon then you will be pleased to know that there are government resources available to help you and your business. The federal government operates the U.S. Small Business Administration, which is an agency with offices across the country. The office for Oregon is located in Portland.

The staff at SBA offices can provide small business owners with information, advice, and resources relating to a wide range of business issues. The SBA has also been known to offer business loans and grants, although instances of the latter are rare. The SBA insists that any free federal grants are awarded to small businesses that are working to advance science and technology.

Therefore, the intention of the SBA is to assist and develop industries such as:

• agriculture
• transportation
• health

Full details of the SBA’s policy on grants can be seen at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses. Since the SBA favors research and innovation, two programs ensure that only suitable small businesses receive grants. These programs are known as Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer.

Unless your small business meets the criteria set out in these programs you will have to finance it in a different way. The following organizations have offices in Oregon, where staff can inform you of your financing options. They can also offer other useful services, such as entrepreneurial training and business advice.

Business Oregon
Business Oregon is a state agency run by the Oregon Business Development Commission. They provide advice and information to small business owners to promote growth and success. Some of the most important information they provide is on financing a small business. Examples include:

• The BOOST fund, otherwise known as Building Opportunities for Oregon Small Business Today. This fund awards grants and loans to small businesses in order to generate job creation. Up to $2500 can be awarded for each full time job that is created. Businesses must have fewer than one hundred employees to be eligible for a grant.
• The State Small Business Credit Initiative, which funds various projects such as the Credit Enhancement Fund, the Oregon Business Development Fund, and the Capital Access Program. In general, these projects improve access to capital for small businesses, in addition to providing tax relief.

Oregon Microenterprise Network
The Oregon Microenterprise Network provides training opportunities and business services for small business owners across the state. It is a complete support network for small business owners, and an essential component is promoting cooperation between businesses using OMEN’s proven development strategies.

Main Street Alliance of Oregon
The Main Street Alliance of Oregon is one of a larger network of small business assistance services. The purpose of the project is to unite Oregon small business owners, in order to give them a voice with policy makers on a state and national level. They also provide small business owners with information on issues such as energy, financing, and paying tax.

Oregon Small Business Administration
The Oregon Small Business Administration acts as an information providing resource for small business owners in Oregon. The organization conducts research, lobbies policy makers, and educates small business owners. Of particular interest to the organization are Oregon’s business taxes and regulations.

Your Oregon small business could benefit greatly as a result of you making use of the resources listed here. Your improved business skills could result in a more efficiently run business, and greater profitability. Furthermore, if you manage to acquire additional financing then you should be able to successfully expand your business operations.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
Oregon District Office
601 SW Second Avenue Suite 950
Portland, OR 97204
United States
Phone: 503-326-2682
Fax: 503-326-2808

Business Oregon
775 Summer St. NE, Suite 200
Salem, OR 97301-1280
p: 503-986-0123
toll-free: 866-467-3466
f: 503-581-5115

Main Street Alliance of Oregon
6601 NE Martin Luther King Blvd.
Portland, OR 97211
971-634-0004

There are many difficulties involved with running a small business, not least of which is having too little working capital to be able to expand the business. As a result of this fact, small business owners will often try to obtain financing in the form of grants and loans. The U.S Small Business Administration is the government agency with the responsibility for issuing federal financing, and their Oklahoma office can be found in Oklahoma City.

While the SBA regularly provides small business owners with low interest loans, they are much more stringent when it comes to free grants. In fact, their regulations mean that very few small businesses meet the criteria to be awarded a grant. The SBA insist that small businesses must operate in specific industries, such as:

• science and technology
• defense
• energy

Two programs, Small Business Technology Transfer and Small Business Innovation Research, regulate eligibility for grants. To be accepted onto these programs a small business must be researching or developing innovative technology. More details of the requirements of these programs can be found at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses.

It can be disappointing to discover that very few small businesses in Oklahoma are eligible for free government grants. However, it is important to emphasize the fact that there an abundance of assistance available, both financial and technical, to small businesses owners. The organizations highlighted below are just three examples of many.

Oklahoma State Office
The Oklahoma state office provides a wealth of official information on business matters. They categorize the information on offer based on whether an entrepreneur is starting, or in the process of running, a business. In terms of small business operations, the state office provides:

• information on small business health insurance from the Department of Commerce
• information on the Small Business Linked Deposit Loan Program, which allows the Oklahoma State Treasurer to offer financial institutions low interest certificates of deposit, thereby encouraging lending to small businesses
• information on small business management, in conjunction with the use of the state’s business planning tool

Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers
Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers combine support programs at a local, state, and federal level to provide a comprehensive business assistance service. Since 1984 the staff of Oklahoma Small Business Development Centers have helped over 150,000 people to start and run a small business. Some of the specific services they provide include:

• library and online courses on starting and running a small business, arranging financing, and eventually improving and expanding the business
• seminars and workshops taught by trained professionals with many years of business experience
• free consultancy on business topics such as accounting and taxes, franchising, e-commerce, and market research

Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality runs the Small Business Assistance Program. This program provides technical and regulatory advice to small business owners on a wide range of environmental issues. Information is provided regarding federal as well as state regulations.

If you are a small business owner in Oklahoma looking for a free grant then the SBA can provide you with information, but it is unlikely that they will grant you financing. The organizations listed in this article can offer you advice regarding financing, and show that there are alternatives available to the SBA.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
Federal Building
301 NW 6th St
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
United States
Phone: (405) 609-8000

Oklahoma Small Business Development Center
301 W University Blvd.
Durant, OK 74701
(580) 745-2877

Most small business owners would not pass up the opportunity to receive a free grant from the government, and it is this demand that makes federal business grants so rare. The official small business office of the United States government, the U.S. Small Business Administration, has the ability to award grants, but has extremely specific guidelines for eligibility. Most small businesses in Ohio, and throughout the United States, do not qualify.

Put very simply, the requirements of the SBA grant awarding system are that small businesses must demonstrate commercially viable innovation. So, for example, retail businesses would not qualify, but a small business that was carrying out research into innovative agricultural practises would.

Additional eligible industries include:

• transport
• education
• energy

There are two programs that specify which small businesses are suitable for federal grants. They are known as Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer. The SBA’s website at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses gives further details.

Financial assistance is only one of the requirements of small business owners in Ohio. They also often need advice on issues such as business regulations, taxes, licenses, and permits. They might also need training in managing accounts or utilizing technology. These are just some of the services to be offered by the staff at the following organizations.

Ohio Business Gateway
The purpose of the Ohio Business Gateway is to make state resources available to small business owners. This official initiative of the Ohio state office provides a huge amount of information, for example:

• advice on how to stay compliant with state business regulations
• advice on obtaining all required licenses and permits, as well as paying taxes
• help with finding employees, as well as information on employment law

Ohio Small Business Development Centers
There are forty-one Small Business Development Centers in Ohio, each of which is staffed by trained and certified business advisers. Each center can offer tailored, confidential business counseling and training, all at zero cost to the business owner. Specific examples of the types of assistance available include:

• quality based assessments of current business practises with a view to making improvements
• guidance with applying for various loans and financial packages
• information on business assistance programs at a local, state, and national level
• advice on complying with regulations at a local, state, and national level

Ohio Small Business Association
The Ohio Small Business Association has been monitoring the needs of Ohio small businesses since 1978, with a view to creating solutions to problems and generating growth. OSBA membership provides:

• business to business discounts through the Associated Buying Cooperative
• a platform for voicing concerns and opinions to policy makers in Ohio
• access to various insurance and workers compensation packages

Running a successful small business can be very difficult, and help is usually greatly appreciated. It is important to highlight the work done by business assistance programs and organizations, even if they do not provide the free grants that business owners often badly need.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
Cleveland District Office
1350 Euclid Avenue Suite 211
Cleveland, OH 44115
United States
Phone: 216-522-4180
Fax: 216-522-2038
TTY/TTD: 800-750-0750

Columbus District Office
401 N. Front Street Suite 200
Columbus, OH 43215
United States
Phone: 614-469-6860

Cincinnati Branch Office
525 Vine Street Suite 1030
Cincinnati, OH 45202
United States
Phone: 513-684-2814

Ohio SBDC
77 S. High Street, 28th Floor
Columbus, OH 43216
Phone: 614-466-1876
Fax: 614-466-0829

OSBA
PO Box 110
Blacklick, OH 43004
Phone: 614-759-6355

As a result of a desire to drive the economy, the United States federal government has put in place certain measures to support the millions of small businesses currently in operation. One example is the specially designed U.S. Small Business Administration, which has offices in areas across the country, including Fargo, North Dakota.

The purpose of the SBA is to provide small business owners with information, advice, and resources relating to all aspects of running a business. The SBA also funds many different business related projects at a state level. Due to the fact that the agency awards grants to these projects, many people mistakenly believe that grants are also available for start up or expanding small businesses. This is incorrect. In fact, the SBA will only award grants to small businesses when the money is guaranteed to go towards research, or the development of an innovative product.

To this end, two programs have been established, known as Small Business Technology Transfer and Small Business Innovation Research. The strict qualifying criteria for these programs ensures that grants benefit industries such as:

• transportation
• agriculture
• defense

More details on these programs can be found at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses.

Small business owners are often disappointed when they discover that they are not eligible for a free federal grant from the SBA. This leads them to seek out alternative forms of financing. The following North Dakota organizations can provide information on this, as well as offering general business advice.

North Dakota Small Business Development Center
The North Dakota Small Business Development Center was established to help entrepreneurs to start, manage, and maintain small business enterprises. The staff at each NDSBDC office use their business expertise to help small business owners to be successful. Small business owners can benefit from:

• free access to downloadable resources and business software
• free online training courses designed to encourage business learning
• one to one consulting services covering business planning, marketing, financial projections, production management, and the use of internet technology

North Dakota Center for Community Vitality
The North Dakota Center for Community Vitality works in conjunction with the North Dakota State University. They aim to enhance local communities in North Dakota by helping small businesses to succeed. Their methods for achieving this goal involve:

• creating a comprehensive network of service providers to benefit small businesses
• connecting small businesses, thereby creating networking opportunities for entrepreneurs
• creating a climate of discussion to find solutions to common business programs
• providing small business owners with practical research and information

In a competitive market it is important to run your small business as efficiently and as profitably as possible. This often requires financial investment. The importance of financing means that the lack of SBA grants should not act as a deterrence to seeking assistance. The purpose of this article has been to highlight the various forms of assistance, including financial, available to you as a small business owner in North Dakota.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
Fargo District Office
657 2nd Avenue North Room 218
Fargo, ND 58108
United States
Phone: 701-239-5131
Fax: 701-239-5645

Bismarck Area Office
1200 Memorial Highway
Bismarck, ND 58504
United States
Phone: 701-328-5850

Grand Forks Area Office
102 North 4th Street, Suite 104
Grand Forks, ND 58203
United States
Phone: 701-746-5160

North Dakota SBDC
UND SBDC Lead Center
1200 Memorial Highway, PO Box 5509
Bismarck, ND 58506
Phone: 701-328-5375
Fax: 701-250-4304

Anybody who runs a small business in North Carolina can develop their business knowledge and skills with organizations such as the U.S. Small Business Administration. The district office of this federal agency is located in Charlotte, with further offices to be found in Asheville and Cary. In addition to offering advice on business affairs, the SBA also funds a range of business assistance programs.

This should not be confused with direct financing of small businesses, which the SBA only does in very specific circumstances. For example, free federal grants from the SBA are available as part of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs. As the names suggest, these programs only apply to industries such as:

• technology
• science
• energy

Full details can be found at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses.

It is likely that your North Carolina small business will not qualify to benefit directly from SBA grants. You can, of course, still use the SBA as an information resource. In addition, the following organizations are also located in North Carolina, and can offer various services such as information, advice, and business training.

North Carolina Department of Commerce
The North Carolina Department of Commerce runs the Thrive in North Carolina project. Part of this project is the Business ServiCenter, which acts as a one stop resource center for conducting business in the state. Information is provided on:

• financing a small business, for example the North Carolina Green Business Fund, which awards grants to small businesses to encourage the development of green technologies
• starting and growing a business in North Carolina, including the sharing of resources for networking purposes
• licensing and permitting, and general state regulation compliance

North Carolina Small Business Center Network
The North Carolina Small Business Center Network is a community college system which aims to provide small business owners with essential tools and resources. In fifty-eight centers across the state NCSBC staff provide:

• free counseling on starting and expanding a business
• free access to resource libraries, including business plans and market research
• low cost seminars and workshops teaching entrepreneurship, bio business, international business, and government procurement
• access to tools such as the IRS Tax Center

North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center
Established in 1984, the North Carolina Small Business and Technology Development Center network has helped over 125,000 small businesses to thrive. Each center in the network is staffed by business experts, typically with extensive experience and graduate degrees. They can offer:

• training and education for business start ups
• guides to funding opportunities
• assistance with market research, as well as conducting effective marketing campaigns

Whether you need training, advice, or financial assistance, there are organizations in North Carolina that provide the services you require. The SBA is important in that it is the official agency of the federal government, however it is extremely unlikely that they will offer you a free grant. Loans are a viable alternative, and it should also be remembered that there are often other grant awarding bodies to be considered.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
North Carolina District Office
6302 Fairview Road Suite 300
Charlotte , NC 28210
United States
Phone: 704-344-6563
Fax: 704-344-6769
Toll Free: 800-827-5722

SBA West NC Office
29 Haywood St.
Asheville, NC 28801
United States
Phone: 828-225-1844
Toll Free: 800-827-5722

SBA Raleigh and Northeast NC Office
3434 Kildaire Farm Road Room 205
Cary, NC 27518
United States

North Carolina SBTDC
5 West Hargett Street, Suite 600
Raleigh, North Carolina 27601
(919) 715-7272
(800) 258-0862 (NC Only)

If you own a small business in New York then you will no doubt be aware of the work of the U.S. Small Business Administration. This is the small business office of the United States federal government, however they also carry out a lot of important work at a state level. The details of the New York office can be found at the end of this article.

The SBA funds a large number of state programs to assist small business owners, as well as services offered by non-profit organizations. This is their preferred method of assisting small businesses, rather than offering grants directly. In fact, the only time the SBA will award a free grant to a small business is when it will benefit industries such as:

• education
• energy
• transportation

The SBA insists that a small business is researching or developing innovative products and services. They must offer a quantifiable benefit to their local community. Small businesses qualify for SBA grants in this way by taking part in the Small Business Technology Transfer and Small Business Innovation Research programs, with the application process being very stringent.

Most New York small businesses do not meet the criteria of the SBTT and SBIR programs. If your small business is part of this group then you may think that you can only receive private funding. However, there are actually several options for you to consider. The following organizations are staffed by people with expert knowledge of small business operations, and they can offer advice on financing.

NYC Small Business Services
The NYC Small Business Services program is run by the state of New York. It is designed to help small businesses to form and grow. It does so through its NYC Business Solutions services, which include:

• courses to teach essential business skills such as accounting and marketing
• financing advice, including information on lenders, and how to successfully apply for financing
• access to a pool of potential employees, and funds to assist with training costs

Empire State Development Division for Small Business
The Empire State Development Division for Small Business is designed to represent the interests of businesses which have under one hundred employees. This is achieved through a wide range of programs and initiatives. Financial assistance programs include:

• the Small Business Revolving Loan Fund, which provides loans of up to $125,000
• the Small Business Technology Investment Fund, which provides high-tech companies with capital for growth
• the Innovate NY Fund, which is worth $26 million, and is used to promote small business growth, entrepreneurship, and job creation

New York State Small Business Development Center
The New York State Small Business Development Center has helped almost 350,000 businesses in the state since 1984. There are NYSSBMC offices located throughout the state, each of which provides:

• workshop and training opportunities
• a free business advisory service on issues such as energy efficiency, business strategy, utilizing technology, regulatory compliance, and selling to the government
• specialist advice for women and minority business owners, such as information on the New York State Surety Bond Assistance Program. This program provides financial and credit assistance to minority and women owned business enterprises

As can be seen from the examples listed here, there are organizations in New York which can prove to be very beneficial to your small business. By sharing their insights into running a small business they can help you to achieve your goals. The first step in this process will be to have sufficient financing in place to allow your small business to prosper.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
New York District Office
26 Federal Plaza Suite 3100
New York, NY 10278
United States
Phone: 212-264-4354
Fax: 212-264-4963

Empire State Development Division for Small Business
633 Third Avenue, 33rd Floor
New York, NY 10017
(800) 782-8369

30 South Pearl Street, 7th Floor
Albany, NY 12245
(800) 782-8369

NYS Small Business Development Center
22 Corporate Woods Building, 3rd Floor
Albany, NY 12246
In NY State (800) 732-SBDC
Outside NY State (518) 443-5398

NYC Department of Small Business Services
110 William Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10038

New Mexico is home to many small businesses, as well as various programs and organizations to help them to be successful. Some examples of the types of assistance available can be seen later in this article. In the majority of cases organizations will offer advice and business training rather than financial assistance.

This is true even in the case of the official government agency for small business regulation, the U.S. Small Business Administration. This agency has offices situated throughout the United States, with the New Mexico office being located in Albuquerque. The role of the SBA is to provide information relating to all aspects of running a small business, in addition to funding assistance programs.

The SBA will only provide free federal grants to businesses which are judged to be particularly innovative. To this end, grants are administered through two specially designed programs, known as Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer. These programs apply to:

• science and technology
• defense
• energy

and a select group of industries which can be seen at http://www.sba.gov/content/research-grants-small-businesses.

If your New Mexico small business does not qualify for the SBIR and SBTT programs then you may struggle to find suitable funding. Organizations such as those highlighted below can give advice as to how various forms of financing work, even if they do not offer grants or loans themselves. They can also offer other business services which can also be beneficial to you as a small business owner.

New Mexico Small Business Development Center
The New Mexico Small Business Development Center has been supporting small businesses in New Mexico for over twenty years. There are local offices located in twenty areas across the state, and the lead office is located in Sante Fe. Staff provide business training in workshops, seminars, and free individual counseling sessions. Specific areas of assistance include:

• Business start up, planning, and development
• accounting, book keeping, financing, and taxes
• e-commerce, marketing, government contracting, and international trade

New Mexico Small Business Investment Corporation
The New Mexico Small Business Investment Corporation began in 2001, and since that time almost two thousand small businesses throughout the state have been helped financially. The NMSBIC offers:

• a lending program consisting of three lending organizations. These organizations also offer additional services, such as mentoring. This program has assisted small business owners who have been unable to obtain loans from other sources
• an equity program which exists in cooperation with nine equity funds located in New Mexico. The combined total of these funds is almost $98 million

New Mexico State Office
The official state office for New Mexico provides a large amount of information on starting, running, relocating, and selling a business in the state. More specifically, they can assist you with paying taxes, employing staff, and securing financing.

New Mexico Small Business Assistance
This program was established with the specific intention of providing small businesses with free access to laboratory staff and equipment. It is therefore geared towards helping small businesses that require scientific engineering for research or product design purposes. Up to $20000 worth of laboratory work can be carried out free of charge.

If you would like to start a new business in New Mexico then the information provided by business assistance services can be extremely useful. The same is true if you have plans to expand an existing business. Technical and financial assistance offered when developing a small business can be a huge factor in determining its success.

Resources
U.S. Small Business Administration
625 Silver Avenue SW Suite 320
Albuquerque , NM 87102
United States
Phone: 505-248-8225
Fax: 505-248-8246

New Mexico Small Business Investment Corporation (NMSBIC)
P.O. Box 22547
Santa Fe, NM 87502-4730
505-670-1329

New Mexico SBDC
Santa Fe Community College
6401 Richards Avenue
Santa Fe, NM 87508
Phone: 505-428-1362
Fax: 505-428-1469